Egyptian police clashed Saturday with protesters, mainly from Islamist groups, firing rubber bullets and tear gas as they broke up a sit-in. "Down with Tantawi," hundreds of protesters cried, referring to the country's military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, as they lobbed rocks towards policemen who responded with heavy volleys of rubber bullets.

By nightfall, police seemed have retreated from the square and several thousand protesters reassembled peacefully in the central garden of Tahrir Square, AFP reported.

The day started when police moved into Tahrir Square in the morning to disperse the demonstrators, who included relatives of victims of the revolt that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in February. Clashes continued unabated through the afternoon and demonstrators seized a police truck.

The vehicle was set ablaze.

A security official conveyed a number of arrests were made. And an official at the health ministry said 213 people were hurt in the clashes.